SYMPOSIA

Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Vol: 21, Supplement: 2, 2011 - www.psikofarmakoloji.org
Abstracts of Oral Presentations
[SO-03] Ref. No: 102
Treating psychotic substance abuse patients with opioid agonist therapy and
the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine
Maria Chiara Pieri 1
1 Department of Drug Addiction, Bologna Est, Italy
E-mail: chiara.pieri@ausl.bologna.it
Objectives: The aims of the study were: 1. To evaluate the efficacy of olanzapine in patients on methadone maintenance treatment; 2. To
explore the time-course variation of cravings and weight at baseline and every 2 months for the first 6 months and then every 6 months until
the end of the study (30 months). 3. To compare the severity of the symptoms between patients on methadone and patients on buprenorphine.
Methods: The patients were enrolled from the Outpatient Addiction Unit in Bologna, Italy. All patients gave written informed consent. We
randomized 32 patients to treatment with methadone and 13 to treatment with buprenorphine. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,
36 patients were included in the study and they were divided into three treatment groups.
At the baseline and follow-up sessions the following rating scales were administered: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2
(MMPI-2), the SCID-II (to identify and determine DSM-IV Axis II disorders i.e. personality disorders), Bech-Rafaelsen Mania and Melancholia
Scales (BRMAS, BRMES; Bech et al. 1988, to cover severity of manic and depressive symptoms, respectively), and a VAS (Visual Analogic
Scale, to quantify craving for drugs).
Also the body weight of the participants was registered and followed.
Results: After six months, no significant difference was found among the three subgroups, even though the olanzapine+methadone
group achieved better and quicker results and sustained them for longer periods. There was no significant difference at baseline and at
the end of the study in all patients.
Total and partial BRMES and BRMAS scores did not significantly change during the follow-up period (6 th -30 th month), eventhough the
curve displayed a downward trend. The VAS total scores were significantly lower both at the 6th and 30th month (p